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Johnny Napalm is a main character in the Guitar Hero series. He is one of only a handful of characters to appear in every game in the series, a distinction only shared with Axel Steel and Judy Nails (as well as Izzy Sparks, who is a minor character in Warriors of Rock). He represents the punk genre in all games and is featured on the cover of the first Guitar Hero title.

Descriptions

"Johnny Napalm. Guitar God. But it wasn't always that way. Before his 19th birthday he'd already had several brushes with the law and served jail time. His social workers labeled him a "lost cause" noting several times that he "doesn't play well with others." If only they could see him play now. Inspired by the punk movement of the late 70s London, Johnny found a guitar, changed his name, and grabbed his destiny. Without a single lesson, his awesome talent and raw sound have earned him guitar god status. His latest album "Hair Shirt" burns the eardrums just right. We wish we could supply you with a quote from Johnny, but he never sits still for an interview."
—Manual bio
"Raw is the word that describes Johnny Napalm best. That goes for his guitar playing and his abuse of the English language. His energy on stage is unmatched. He's the true successor to the Punk Era and an awesome talent."
—In-game bio
"Spitting and swearing his way through life, Johnny Napalm just doesn't give a damn. Never having taken a single lesson, his raw sound, awesome talent and no-holds-barred attitude make Johnny a true guitar hero."
—In-game bio (prototype version)

"He embodies the true spirit of punk rock with his signature swagger and skills. Released from lockup for almost tolerable behavior, Johnny lurches back into the spotlight, rough and ready for action."
—In-game bio

"A fiend for surf punk and rapid downstrokes, Johnny Napalm spends as much time thrashing onstage as he does gettin' hassled by the 5-0. Fully chaotic and hella toxic, Johnny's all-age shows are totally legendary."
—In-game bio

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning." Whoever said that never met Johnny. Up all night thrashing and partying, there is no sleeping for Johnny, just blacking out. "I eat disco and $*&^ emo."
—In-game bio

"Johnny Napalm is the most angry, disrespectful, intense, and controversial guitarist today. Once the music starts, all his aggression suppressed by society's laws comes out on his strings. He has been labeled a lost cause, a menace to society, an anarchist, and a Guitar Legend. Johnny can incite a riot (and often does) with his mind-blowing solos and aggressive chords. His chaotic guitar playing excites audiences and keeps them screaming for more."
—In-game bio

"Johnny's music defies the laws of nature, and sometimes other laws too. There is no place for him in the world of conventional music. Social norms will be broken and cliques will be crushed. Johnny is never advertised or marketed. Entirely self-taught, Johnny likes to say that the only lesson he ever took was music conspiracy theory."
—In-game bio

"Johnny is back in full form and he's not clowning around. "Punk is dead!" a crowd member was heard screaming at a Johnny Napalm show last summer. A truly prophetic statement for the young man..."
—In-game bio

"Johnny is as tough as old boots, as hard as nails, and strikes fear into the hearts of all who behold him. But he loves, tiny, fluffy, cute kittens with sad eyes."
—In-game bio

"Johnny's career retrospective 'Napalmanac' features honest, haunting lyrics that strike like tigers, burning bright in a miasma of acid guitar, brutal bass and burning beats."
—Human form description
"Having reached the nirvana of nihilism in his warrior form, Johnny feels nothing but the strength in himself to stand up to any forces that would silence him."
—Warrior/Spirit form description
"Johnny's energy is boundless, but unfocused and wild. Given a greater goal; though, he could bring his tempestuous nature to bear".
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, human form loading screen, and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Mobile, Help menu description.
"Johnny was victorious, and his reward approaches. Go forth Johnny. You are now the true embodiment of chaos."
—Transformation narration.

"Johnny's energy is boundless, but unfocused and wild. Given a greater goal; though, he could bring his tempestuous nature to bear."
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, human form loading screen, and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Mobile, character description for Johnny in the Help menu.
"Johnny has ceased to care about authenticity, self, or anything aside from the sound. In his true form, he sees with the clarity that comes only by embracing chaos."
—Help menu description (Warrior form)

Appearance and Outfits

Johnny Napalm is depicted as a tall, slim, and lanky character. His hair is typically fashioned in a mohawk, and its colors and styles vary depending on the game.

Guitar Hero

Johnny wore a sleeveless, ripped Union Jack shirt, ripped blue denim pants and navy-blue sneakers. His mohawk is green and spiked, and he has a soul patch.

Guitar Hero II

Mohawk

Johnny wears a yellow sleeveless T-shirt with a radioactive symbol in black that takes up the whole space of the shirt. He wears blue jeans torn up just below his knees, green socks and black sneakers with a pattern of skulls.

Liberty Spikes

  • Johnny has a couple of different looks, but neither of them involves bathing. With liberty spikes and a bullet belt, Johnny makes sordid, degenerate behavior look pretty good. - Shop description.

Johnny wears a khaki jacket with a mesh shirt and a T-shirt combined underneath, on which the anarchy symbol is represented, black fingerless gloves, a bullet belt around his waist, blue denim pants and combat boots. On the back a white patch is shown on with bombs on it and featuring the name 'Napalm' As the name implies, his hair is styled in liberty spikes instead of a mohawk. In both outfits he has a soul patch.

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

In this game, Johnny's hair is styled differently: he sports a McSqueeb, a hair style popularized by Tony Hawk. He wears a studded choker around his neck and a red sleeveless shirt, on which the anarchy logo appears silk-screened, as noted by the uneven shade of red around the logo. He wears blue denim shorts and red sneakers.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Liberty Spikes

Johnny's hair is a spiked mohawk again, but much longer than in the previous games. He appears shirtless, with many new tattoos on his arms and torso (notably the word "ROTTEN" above a biohazard symbol on his navel), but wears ripped denim pants with chains dangling from it and "creeper"-style sneakers with liner length black socks above them, visible if his left shoe (the shoe on the viewer's right) on his Guitar Hero III concept art unlockable in Quickplay+ on Warriors of Rock is looked at closely enough. He has a leather band on the left wrist and a sweatband on the right.

  • Bloodshot: Gray denim trousers with a Union Jack motif, red hair, white zebra-print shoes. Sweatband is white with red stripes.
  • Pea Soup: Blue denim trousers with a Union Jack print in green, blue hair fading to green toward the tips, black leopard-print shoes. Sweatband is black with one red stripe and one white stripe.
  • Spew: Half-pink and half-white denim trousers, rainbow-colored hair, red shoes with leopard print in blue and white. Sweatband is black with white stripes, leather wristband is white, arm tattoos have more vibrant colors.
  • Skeleton: Johnny's entire upper body is painted black and white to resemble a skeleton. Red hair. He also wears gloves with bone prints, white denim trousers and black shoes with a pattern of skulls.
  • Mowed Lawn: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) Green and black striped denim trousers, black hair, black shoes. Sweatband is black.
  • Oi: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) Black denim trousers, no hair, red and black shoes. Sweatband is black. He has a spider tattoo on his torso.
  • Old School: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) Black denim trousers with a zebra-striped belt, white hair, blue and black shoes. Sweatband is white with one black stripe.

Mohawk

Johnny's leather jacket served as his only shelter when he was living on the street in '82. But it was cool. He was able to save money to buy enough hair products to maintain a killer sky-high mohawk. - Shop description.

Johnny's hair is a foot-long straight mohawk. He wears a studded leather jacket with spikes on the shoulders and sides of limbs. The shoulders are torn over a ripped undershirt. A chain necklace with a padlock, patched-together zipper pants, an extra belt going slantways, suspenders and a pair of combat boots, with spikes on the right one.

  • Spinach: Black jacket with blue left sleeve, flames motif and leopard-print collar. White undershirt, half-red and half-yellow plaid trousers and black boots with khaki laces and a large green splatter on the left one. Green hair.
  • Pumpkin: Black jacket with left sleeve in blue, burgundy and white, right sleeve mostly green and zebra-print collar. Grey undershirt with a skull logo, urban camo trousers and black boots with red laces. Orange hair.
  • Two Tone: Red plaid jacket with black collar. White undershirt with a skating punk logo, black trousers and black boots with yellow laces. Hair alternates between yellow and blue.
  • Eggplant: White jacket with sky blue fade at the bottom and right sleeve, left sleeve in green and brown and leopard-print collar. Black undershirt, blue plaid trousers with yellow and red patches. Belts are white. Black boots with white laces. Purple hair.
  • Heliotrope: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) Black jacket, black undershirt, black trousers. Belts and suspenders are white. White boots, pink hair.
  • Shorn: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) Black and blue jacket with black collar. Gray undershirt with a pink logo, black trousers and black boots with black laces. Has black eyeshadow, no hair.
  • Skunk: (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only) White jacket with black collar. Red and black tiled undershirt, black trousers with yellow lines and black boots with black laces. Has black eyeshadow, black and white striped hair.

Guitar Hero: On Tour

In his "Formal Wear" outfit, Johnny looks the same as he did in GH3, but with different tattoos and no Union Jack Logo on the pants.

His "Ink" outfit has a green Mohawk (spiked in liberty spikes) with blue on the end, and is covered in tattoos all over his arms, back, and chest.

His "Anarchy" outfit has him dressed in brown pants, blue Mohawk (once again spiked in liberty spikes), and a black sleeveless shirt with a white anarchy logo on it. It's also a reference to the Sex Pistols song, "Anarchy In The UK" which is a playable song in Guitar Hero 3.

Guitar Hero World Tour

Johnny's hair is red in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions but is white in the Wii and PlayStation 2 versions.

Default Clothing
  • Torso: DIY Leather Punk
  • Pants: Union Jack Jeans
  • Shoes: Ghoulie Heels

Guitar Hero: Metallica

Johnny has purple liberty spikes, brown shorts, a black tank top, combat boots which if removed show white crew cut tube socks and has the same tattoos as previously featured in World Tour.

Default Clothing
  • Torso: Beater
  • Pants: Beach Slacks
  • Shoes: Ghoulie Heels
Default Accessories
  • Left Arm: Deathband
  • Right Arm: Leathery Spike

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits

Johnny is also seen in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits looking as he did in World Tour but with the outfit seen in Guitar Hero III. In the Wii and PlayStation 2 versions, he has no tattoos.

Default Clothing
  • Torso: Shirtless
  • Pants: Union Jack Jeans
  • Shoes: Zebra Skin Kickers

Guitar Hero 5

  • Klobber: Johnny has a big, short, thick orange "thick hawk". He wears a short sleeved grey shirt with the words "Napalm 86" written in black on the back of the shirt. He wears skinny pants with red camo on it and an orange kilt near the rear. He wears big red boots with thick pointy spikes on the sides. This default outfit is appropriately titled "Napalm 86". As mentioned, it is the default outfit.
  • 1976:
  • Generation Zzyzx: The biggest difference is that Johnny has a blonde buzz cut. Johnny wears torn khaki shorts with a chain belt. He has red suspenders with metal adjusters on them. He has his tattoo sleeves as usual and has chain accessories like necklaces, bracelets, etc. He also has bandages on his right bicep and left forearm and hand as well as his abdomen. He has high top brown boots. This outfit can be unlocked through the "Looks that Kill" challenge.
  • Surburban Snot Punk:

Band Hero

Burnt Udon: His new appearance looks much different than his previous ones, as now he sports a more casual style, but still retains his punk reputation. His hair blonde and spiked into individual spikes in a style appropriately called "All Product, No Egg". He wears a black and white striped long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows under a tan short sleeved shirt with several military patches on it, accessorized with a red skinny tie. He wears this along with jeans and white sneakers. He has a white wrist band with blue and red stripes on his right arm. In this version, he looks significantly older and sports many tattoos. His alternative outfit looks more similar to his signature look; he has a thick blonde mohawk with the ends dyed orange and a sleeveless black shirt over an orange one.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock: His Warrior form gives him the appearance of a blue hobgoblin. He has spikes on his forearms and biceps. He has a studded leather vest and tight black jeans. His mohawk is made of steel spikes and he has red glowing eyes. And he has two spikes coming out of his ears. He also has a lock collar in his neck. He has claws, similar to Wolverine's.

Origin

Johnny was born and raised in East London, the source of his Cockney heritage. His father, Eggy, was one of the original Hair-Punks of London in the late 70's. He was previously in a band called I Can't Believe You're Going Out Like That, You Look Ridiculous!

According to an excerpt from the original Guitar Hero’s manual, his social worker claims that, "he doesn't play well with others." In Guitar Hero III, his Mohawk description states that, “[his] leather jacket served as his only shelter when he was living on the streets in '82.”

Johnny is well-known for hosting wild parties, which are frequently visited by Izzy Sparks, Lars Ümlaüt, Axel Steel, Casey Lynch, Pandora, Austin Tejas, Echo Tesla, and Judy Nails.

In addition, excerpts from Guitar Hero: Aerosmith hint that he hangs out with Judy Nails and has a romantic relationship with her.

In-Game Appearances

Songs associated with Johnny Napalm

Guitar Hero Quickplay Songs

Guitar Hero II Quickplay Songs

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s Quickplay Songs

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Setlist

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Mobile Setlists

Johnny (Tier 1)
Johnny Transformed (Tier 2)

Speed Freak

Basic Effects

The score multiplier goes no lower than double points (2x). Keeping the multiplier above triple points (3x) will grant up to two power stars.

+ Effects

The multiplier now increases after a note streak of five notes rather than ten. Keeping the multiplier above triple points now grants up to five power stars.

In Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Mobile and its More Music version, instead of this additional ability, songs in the Johnny Transformed (2nd) tier will always be at 3x multiplier at minimum in contrast to the 2x minimum multiplier in his first tier.

Trivia

  • Johnny's signature guitar is the Green Lightning Les Paul Special in GH1. He likes it for its "light weight, playability and quality of construction".
  • Johnny's white shoes that he wore with his Bloodshot Liberty Spikes outfit in GH3 are almost identical to white creeper shoes made by T.U.K.
  • Since Johnny Napalm usually appears with The Union Jack on anywhere on the body, he might live in the United Kingdom somewhere in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
  • He is the face of the first Guitar Hero game, as he appears on the box art.
  • In Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, his encore, the theme from Spider Man, is a fitting song, as he can climb walls and ceilings with his bare hands in his warrior form, just like Spider Man.
  • While not appearing in the game physically, Johnny's name is shown to be one of the nine opponents in GHTV's Premium Shows in Guitar Hero Live.
  • In his "Two Tone" outfit from Guitar Hero III, the cartoon punk seen in his undershirt is the same from Tony Hawk's American Wasteland promotional material.
  • According to Warriors of Rock's custom rocker creator, the names of Johnny's bandmates are Shane (singer), Carmen (bassist), and Alfie (drummer).
  • He is close friends with Axel Steel and Lars Ümlaüt.

Gallery


v · t · eCharacters of Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero
Axel SteelClive WinstonGrim RipperIzzy SparksJohnny NapalmJudy NailsPandoraXavier Stone
Guitar Hero II
Casey LynchLars ÜmlaütEddie Knox
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Elroy BudvisGod of RockLouMetalheadMidoriSlashTom Morello
Guitar Hero: On Tour
Gunner JaxonMemphis Rose
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Brad WhitfordDMCJoe PerryTom Hamilton
Guitar Hero World Tour
Aaron SteeleBilly CorganHayley WilliamsJimi HendrixJohnny ViperMarcus FretshredderMatty CannzNickOzzy OsbourneRiki LeeRinaRockubotShirley CrowleySkeletonStingTed NugentTravis BarkerZakk Wylde
Guitar Hero: Metallica
FembotJames HetfieldKing DiamondKirk HammettLars UlrichLemmyRobert TrujilloZach Harmon
Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits
Calista ValenzSimon Grimmsy
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
Mario Greendale
Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Alex Van HalenDavid Lee RothEddie Van HalenWolfgang Van Halen
Guitar Hero 5
Carlos SantanaFrankenRockerGerald Contest WinnerGolden GodJohnny CashKurt CobainMatt BellamyRacques TopusRobbie LobsterScrap HeapShadowShirley Manson
Band Hero
Adam LevineAdrian YoungGwen StefaniQuincy StylesTaylor SwiftTom DumontTony Kanal
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Arthas MenethilAustin TejasDemi-God of RockEcho TeslaMinotaur
Non-playable characters
GH1 onward: The BassistThe DrummerThe Female SingerThe KeyboardistThe Male SingerThe SingerGH3: Bret MichaelsGH:OT: The Female SingerGH:A: Joey KramerThe Rhythm GuitaristSteven TylerGHOT:D: ChadMarcusMichelleRonSalZach
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